Decorating on a Budget

Home Depot is a home run when you’re in need of screws, plywood, and mulch, but it may not be the first place you think of when it comes to decorating. And while I’m not about to say that it should be, necessarily, it certainly shouldn’t be ignored.

The folks at IKEA seem to have a knack for making pieces that are incredibly simple and also fit into all different kinds of interiors. They’re like the little black dresses of design. Case in point: the IKEA PS cabinet, which looks like a school locker and a credenza had a baby and somehow, despite its somewhat industrial appearance, is just the right thing for all kinds of spaces. And the best thing? It costs less than $100.

If you’re a card-carrying Costco member, you probably already know the many benefits of the retailer. Of course, buying in bulk can be a huge saver, not to mention they have some exclusive products with cult-followings. But there’s one downside, at least for me, of frequenting the warehouse: FOMO.

One of the biggest challenges of a little apartment is a little bathroom, and one of the biggest challenges of a little bathroom is: where do you put all your stuff? Since storing things in a small bathroom can sometimes seem a bit daunting, and organizers for little spaces can sometimes come with big prices, we’ve rounded up 10 super-helpful products for your little bathroom that will set you back less than $25.

Easter catch you off guard this year? Don’t panic. You can still pull together a beautiful basket, on a budget, on your way home from work tonight. Have $15 and an extra 15 minutes? Head to your local drugstore and you’ve got this. We hit up our local CVS and built two different baskets: one for a younger kiddo, and one for the older set. Both check off all the appropriate bunny-themed boxes, and are filled with fun and colorful items — not to mention the all-important candy.

Don’t want to shell out $60-$120 on a Costco membership, but do want to take advantage of the club’s low prices? Well, you’re in luck, because these five retailers helpfully offer price-matching to us lowly non-members. Read on for all the details. There are reminders for each of the retailers below, but it warrants emphasis: be sure to read the fine print for any price-matching policy you come accross.

If you’re not a seasoned thrifter, Goodwill can be a little intimidating. Filled with buzzing fluorescent lights, broken panini presses, laminated filing cabinets, and bouquets of plastic flowers that seem straight off of the Golden Girls set, it can be a little hard to see the potential wedged in between all the garage-sale junk. But it’s there! You just need to squint and know what you’re looking for.

They only look expensive.

Target sells just about anything, from motor oil to mattress pads to milk. But of course Walmart sells a lot of the same stuff, too (plus some). Both of these stores aim to be your one-stop shop, whether you’re shopping in person or online, and this got us wondering: Are their prices as similar as their inventory? We compared prices at both stores, evaluating some of the most common household goods and personal care items to see which one will offer the biggest bargains.

Before I had kids, I would typically hightail it through the children’s section of IKEA watching to be sure my toes didn’t get squashed by a rocking moose. But with two kids at home, I now know my DUKTIGs from my LATTJOs and my FLISATS from my MAMMUTs. And, I can tell you, there are some good grownup finds in there that you might be overlooking. Let me show you a few… IKEA was smart to design a very basic dollhouse, the FLISAT ($29.

Spring is a season of new beginnings. By now, you must be ready to tackle shaking out the winter cobwebs and doing a bit of a refresh around your home. I’m not talking an extreme renovation and remodeling, but more like a decorating mini makeover with a new piece of furniture or lighting. Or even a seasonal swap of pillows, throws and rugs. The Internet is kind of amazing insofar as it puts the inventory of big home retailers at your fingertips. But the downside of that is, THERE. ARE.

Wouldn’t it be beautiful if having good taste also meant you had plenty of money to indulge said taste? Unfortunately, this is the real world, where sometimes the most discerning decorators also have the smallest budgets. Fortunately, these 12 living room picks only look expensive — they’re all under $100. There’s something that feels so special and luxe about velvet — and this little stool is so reasonably priced that you could buy two for around $100.

We all know spring is the season for growing: grass, flowers, trees…and to-do lists. After a winter of cocoon-like inertia, it’s time to get busy deep cleaning, organizing, fertilizing and mowing. So to get the ball rolling, we made a list of some of the most essential things you’ll need, then compared their prices at two mega-stores known for their bargains: Home Depot and Amazon. Here’s how they stacked up.